Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, is an official sponsor of a controversial "AIDS coffin" exhibit in the Senate, but says his support lacks a strong pulse.
Hatch and Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Nancy Kassebaum, R-Kan., signed on as the three necessary sponsors to allow the exhibit in the Russell Senate Office Building later this month.Mary Fisher - who spoke to the 1992 Republican National Convention about her fight with AIDS - is pushing the AIDS-awareness exhibit with a red-white-and-blue casket surrounded by art. Some other senators have questioned how appropriate it is.
Hatch's press secretary, Paul Smith, said Hatch signed on as a sponsor only because Kassebaum sought his support.
"We get letters asking for him to be honorary co-chairman of this or that all the time," Smith said. "But I don't think the senator plans to attend the ceremonies."
Smith added that Hatch was probably sought as a sponsor because he and Kennedy have pushed bills to allow higher spending for AIDS research.